Nathan MacKinnon hits 100 points and Avs clinch playoff berth in win over San Jose Sharks

The Avs had a chance to clinch their playoff berth with a win against San Jose tonight. With Minnesota’s loss to Vegas yesterday, and Dallas’ win over Nashville,  they also had a chance to take the Central division with two points.

The Sharks, though second-to-last in the Pacific, have been red hot lately on a three-game winning streak against Arizona, Vegas, and Winnipeg.

Darren Helm and Cale Makar would miss tonight’s contest with lower-body injuries. Alexandar Georgiev earned his 57th start in net.

First Period

Colorado set the tone early. At 4:29, Bo Byram walked the blueline in search of the perfect play. He found Denis Malgin, and Malgin’s wrist shot rebounded off Kaapo Kahkonen. A lackluster clear attempt allowed Malgin to recoup the puck and get it back to Byram up high. Byram fed  Jack Johnson, and Johnson leaned into his shot with all he had and his slap shot bounced off Henry Thrun and in.

Approximately two minutes later, Mikko Rantanen’s premium chance at the netfront pinged off the crossbar, but Rantanen fought to retain control of his own rebound. Rantanen carried it around the perimeter and passed to Nathan MacKinnon in the right circle. MacKinnon quickly spun to backhand the puck on net, and Evan Rodrigues was perfectly positioned at the crease to backhand the rebound in.

The Avs were sitting pretty comfortably after an early two-goal lead, but they didn’t completely let up. They continued to create and outshot San Jose 13-7.

Second Period

Colorado came out of the gate hot. Val Nichushkin and J.T. Compher had great chances early, but Kahkonen made two athletic saves.

Ben Meyers drew a tripping penalty and gave Colorado their first powerplay chance. Without Cale Makar, Devon Toews came out with the top unit.

Mikko Rantanen had a clear chance from the right circle, but for another time tonight, he was denied. His 50th goal was not going to come easily. Though they didn’t convert, it was a good powerplay.

Shortly after the conclusion of the it, Nathan MacKinnon wasn’t about to rest on his laurels and drove up the ice on the rush.

Near the midway point, play was stopped after Alexandar Geogiev was forced to make a flurry of saves and the puck appeared to go in. After a quick review, it was decided the puck did not cross the goal line and play resumed.

At 12:55, Erik Karlsson broke up a play in the Sharks end and Logan Couture angled the puck out to a skating Kevin Labanc. Labanc skated in with Karlsson on his flank all alone Sam Girard. You could see Girard was eyeing Karlsson as the threat to be most concerned with, and in an instant Labanc ripped a slapshot bar down.

Two minutes later, Tomas Hertl took an unsportsmanlike penalty and Colorado earned their second powerplay opportunity.

It was a great effort. Mikko Rantanen had another promising chance on net, Nathan MacKinnon had two, and Val Nichushkin nearly had a tip-in.

With two minutes remaining, an offensive zone faceoff win from J.T. Compher gave the Avs quick possession. Devon Toews passed to Rantanen along the half wall, and Rantanen quickly flipped it to Nathan MacKinnon who one-timed it in from the top of the right circle. It was his 99th point of the season.

Colorado may have needed a touch more urgency getting back on the lone goal against, but the rest of the period built upon the success of the first very well. The Avs continued to outshoot the Sharks

Third Period

Early into its start, Nico Sturm hooked J.T. Compher, and the Avs had another man advantage. Colorado did not register a shot on net in this one.

A bit later, Kurtis MacDermid went off for tripping. Sharks cycled the puck effectively around Colorado’s zone. Danil Gushchin sent a great pass from behind the net to Jacob Peterson coming down the slot and snapped it in.

Less than two minutes later, Kevin Labanc scored his second goal of the evening. Noah Gregor shimmied Bo Byram off him near the halfwall. He managed to escape and attempt a wraparound. The rebound dribbled out and Labanc was able to stickhandle it, spin, and lift it in past Georgiev.

Tie game.

Because the Calgary Flames lost to the Blackhawks, the Avs just needed one point to clinch. That part was done. This game, with shots 40-27 in favor of Colorado, would be decided in overtime.

Overtime

It started a bit hairy. Nico Sturm won the opening faceoff, and Henry Thrun registered the first shot on net. In the opening minutes, the Sharks generated the first three chances which demanded a flurry of saves from Georgiev.

At 2:51, a missed Mikko Rantanen shot attempt led to a Sharks two-on-zero opportunity the other way. Georgiev impressively denied Kevin Labanc’s wrister.

Shortly after, Erik Karlsson controlled the puck in the Avs end. He intended to pass up to Thomas Bordeleau at the blueline, but Devon Toews intercepted it and tagged up Nathan MacKinnon in the neutral zone who took off on the breakaway.

MACKINN-HIM 🔥

Nathan MacKinnon joined the 100-point club AND won it for the @Avalanche in @Energizer OT on the same play! pic.twitter.com/eineIp5oYs

— NHL (@NHL) April 5, 2023

He snapped it home. In one fell swoop, he simultaneously scored his 100th point for the first time in his career and advanced the Avs to the top of the Central division for the night.

Observations

Smashing records, Nathan MacKinnon finally hits 100:

With two goals and an assist, Nathan MacKinnon finished with three points to reach 100 for the first time in his career. He’s the first Avalanche player to record 100 points since Joe Sakic during the 2006-07 season. Alongside Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg, he became the only player to reach the mark since the franchise relocated to Denver.

MacKinnon made it happen despite missing 11 games this season due to an upper-body injury in December. He nearly reached the milestone in his 2017-18 season with impressive pacing: 97 points in 74 games.

He chased it again in the 2018 season and fell short by just one point at 99. Now with six games to spare, he can exceed it.

Tonight, he also scored his tenth overtime winner, surpassing Milan Hejduk’s franchise record at nine.

Also in pursuit of unlocking a career achievement: Mikko Rantanen in search of his 50th goal. At 49 goals, he’s just one away from making it happen. He certainly was hungry for it tonight with a team-high 17 shot attempts, eight of which hit the net.

Rantanen had two assists tonight following an impressive four-point night in their last game against the Dallas Stars. He’s on the brink of making it happen.

Finally, Alexandar Georgiev collected his 19th win on the road – a franchise best.

He’s also been among the best in the league since the New Year. Since January, Georgiev leads the NHL in wins with 20.